Almoez Ali’s late goal proved decisive as Qatar secured their spot in the final of the AFC Asian Cup, continuing their title defense with a victory over Iran.
The host nation, Qatar, initially fell behind as Sardar Azmoun scored a remarkable overhead kick to give Iran the lead. However, Qatar quickly turned the tide with goals from Jassem Gaber and Akram Afif, leveling the scoreline.
A controversial penalty decision allowed Iran to equalize, but Almoez Ali’s strike in the 82nd minute tilted the balance in Qatar’s favor once again. Shoja Khalilzadeh’s late red card further hindered Iran’s chances of a comeback.
In the upcoming final on Saturday at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, Qatar will face underdog Jordan, who secured a surprise victory over South Korea to reach their first-ever Asian Cup final.
Qatar aims to make history by becoming the first team since Japan in 2000 and 2004 to win back-to-back Asian Cup titles.
The semi-final clash between Qatar and Iran saw a thrilling start with Azmoun’s acrobatic goal, but Qatar responded strongly with Gaber’s deflected strike. The match was not without controversy, as Iran disputed Qatar’s equalizer, resulting in Mehdi Torabi receiving a yellow card for his protests from the touchline.